Serhii H. Kulyk (Botsman)

Serhiy Hryhorovych Kulyk was born on September 4, 1967, in the village of Vereshytsia, Yavoriv District, Lviv Oblast. After graduating from Kamianets-Podilskyi State Pedagogical Institute named after V.P. Zatonsky in 1994, he worked as a teacher in his native Yavoriv region. He lived in the village of Starychi. In September 2014, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, first as part of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade (from November 2014 to June 2015), and later the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade (from February 2016 to December 2016), participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Later, he served in the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny. When the Russian aggressor treacherously attacked Ukraine on February 24, Sergeant Major Serhiy Kulyk immediately took up the defense of the village of Hostomel. On March 3, during the liberation of the settlement from Russian troops, machine gunner Serhiy Kulyk, as part of a battalion tactical group, engaged in battle with the enemy, who attacked Hostomel with the support of 10 armored personnel carriers and about a hundred infantry invaders. During the battle, the sergeant major sustained gunshot wounds and, despite this, continued to cover the redeployment of his comrades until the end. Serhiy Kulyk died from his injuries. Through his decisive actions, he ensured the fulfillment of the tasks set before the personnel, prevented the infiltration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, and at the cost of his own life preserved the subordinate personnel. He was buried on March 14, 2022, in the village of Starychi in Lviv Oblast. For his personal courage and heroism displayed in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and loyalty to the military oath, Sergeant Major Kulyk Serhiy Hryhorovych was posthumously awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine" with the Order of the Golden Star.